Syntax Magazine

SYNTAX

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARVARD GROUP

Timex

Sinclair

news

VOL. 5 NO .7

ISSN 0273-2696

JULY 1984

IN THIS ISSUE

8K Programs

Stop AutoRUN . 4

TS2068 Programs
64 Column Type . 3

Classified Ads . 11

Dear Editor . 7

Hardware Reviews

AERCO FD-ZX Floppy . 5

Game Changer I/F . 9

Speedload . 8

Westridge 2050 Modem... 4

New Products and
Services . 2

Software Reviews
JRC BASIC Compiler .... 1 0

Index to Advertisers

AERCO . .

Byte-Back Co . .

Knighted Computers,

EMULATOR BOARDS AVAILABLE

Doug Dewey called to let us know that he's
making Spectrum Emulator Boards using 27128
chips. His design is fully socketed. Doug
says he can make these up if you want one—
$60 for one-chip versions, $75 if you want 4
sockets. Write him for details at 206 James
St., Carrboro NC 27510. Hawg Wild is also
offering an emulator.

SYNTAX BUYS TIMEX-SINCLAIR NEWS

This issue, with its new banner, inaugurates
the combination of Timex-Sinclair News into
our publication. We welcome the new readers,
and urge them to send us a SASE or phone us
to locate user groups in their area.

PRICE RISE COMING

Subscription prices must rise for SYNTAX. We
can't hold the line any more. Cost increases
force us to charge more. New newsletters by
Time, Inc. reinforce our decision — they will
charge $48/yr for their 12-page IBM and Apple
newsletters. Less expensive newsletters are
dropping like flies. All of us have suffered
the failure of one or more TS publications —
low price was not a bargain, but a costly
mistake. SYNTAX will try to continue, but at
a price where we can do the job — $48/yr.

TIMEX SAYS NO DEAL

Timex says no proposal has been received to
take over retail sales of their computers.
Judging from newspaper ads, they continue to
sell off inventory via mail and phone.

TECH MANUAL SHIPMENTS SLOW

Timex says it's shipping 2068 manuals, but
BCS members say they haven't gotten them,
despite having ordered in May.

NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

IT’S HERE . Finally i ! !

MODEL 2050 Node* (formerly TS2050) Cotes with Start I
Software on cassette for TS206B, TS1000, and TS1500.
- N0W ONLY *119.00

COMPUSERVE STARTER KIT Includes 5 hrs. connect tite and
3 ring binder with instructions - NON ONLY $29.95

SAKATA 13* SC100 COLOR MONITOR - NON ONLY - $269.00

BMC 12" 6reen Screen Monitor - NON ONLY $89.00

RITEMAN PRINTER - 120CPS, 9 Print Styles, 9X9 Dot
Matrix, ribbon and print head are user replaceable. Reg.

$349.95 - NON ONLY $299.95.

AERCO Centronics Par. interface with driver software
- NON ONLY $ 64.95

Shipping & Handling - Monitor $7.50 — All others $3.00

Mail Order To: Knighted Coeputers, 707 Highland St.,
Fulton, NY 13069 (315)593-8219

NY Residents Add 71 Sales Tax.

AFR Software announces ZX81
Appointment Calendar, a time
management programn for 16-64K
ZX/TS machines. Holds 30 appoint¬
ments in 16K, 100 in 32K, 180 in
48K, or 250 in 64K. Each appoint¬
ment record holds 220 characters.
Features include enter, search/
check, change, save, clear, and
print. $10 for cassette with
instructions, from AFR Software,
1605 Penna. Ave. #204, Miami Beach,
FL 33139 305/531-6464.

Zebra Systems Inc. now operates a
computerized bulletin board system
for Timex/Sinclair users. Features
include a general message board,
special boards for ZX/TS and TS2068
users, user-to-user private mail,
shop-at-home services from Zebra
Systems, and news messages. Best
of all, it's all free. You pay
only for the phone call to 212/296-
2229. You need a modem (Byte-Back
MD or TS2 050) to call bulletin
boards. Service provided by Zebra
Systems Inc., 78-06 Jamaica Ave.,
Woodhaven, NY 11421 212/296-2385.

Soft Images now sells the 1983
cumulative edition of LAMP (Litera¬
ture Analysis of Microcomputer Pub¬
lications), marking the first
complete year of publication for
this international index. A
bimonthly journal, LAMP presently
indexes 130 periodicals dealing
exclusively with microcomputers.

The annual cumulative edition comes
in two volumes and encompasses
thousands of subject and author
entries. It is available to non¬
subscribers at $69.95, or $39.95
for subscribers (subscription is
$89. 95/year). Contact LAMP/Soft
Images, 200 Route 17, Mahwah, NJ
07430 800/526-9042.

WHEN WRITING TO VENDORS...

Mention SYNTAX. We can't grow
without you.

2

64 COLUMN TYPE — TS2068

This program allows you to
type a full screen (24 lines by 64
characters) on your TS2068. It's
primarily in BASIC, so it runs
rather slow and will not keep up
with most typists. COPYing the
screen will print only every other
character (the ones in display file
1), because the ROM routines do not
support 64 column mode.

U$ holds the machine code to
clear display file 2 and rearrange
memory so that display file 2 can
be used. Variables A-F get values
10-15 to assist in hexidecimal
translation (because VAL("A")=10 if
variable A equals 10) .

Lines 90 and 95 establish
characters for the normal cursor
(wide vertical bar), inverse video
cursor (narrow vertical bar) and
caps locked cursor (inverse C).

The cursor for inverse video caps
locked is a normal C.

Variable DF contains the
address of the current print
position, and alternates from
display file 1 to 2 and back. D
(in line 25) counts through the 8
scan lines in each character as it
prints. B is the print line
number; C is the column number, and
S is the starting address of the
character set. I is the inverse
video flag.

This program makes use of
techniques explained in "Recipes
for 2068 Advanced Video" (SYNTAX
Feb'84). Further information
appears in the TS2068 Technical
Reference Manual (review in SYNTAX
Jun'84) available from Timex.

Lloyd Painter, Quakertown, PA

3

STOP AUTORUNNING PROGRAMS — 8K/1K

If you have programs which
autoRUN after LOADing, and would
like to examine or back up these
programs, you have a problem: how
to keep control of the machine.

You need a LOAD that never RUNS.

To convince the ZX/TS machine
not to RUN after LOADing, we CALL
the LOAD routine in machine code.

In normal operation, the operating
system JPs (jumps) to the LOAD
code: if we CALL, then after the
LOAD it will return to our machine
code calling routine. We can then
JP to the STOP statement code,
forcing the machine to STOP and
give an error report.

You need to put the machine
code LOAD routine out of the way in
memory. If you store it in a REM
statement, it will be wiped out
when LOADing occurs. You can
safely tuck this routine above
RAMTOP or in an unused portion of a
64K RAM. To set RAMTOP, type:

POKE 16389, n
POKE 16388,235
NEW

Where n depends on your RAM size,
one of the following:

RAM

RAMTOP

n

IK

17388

67

2K

18412

71

16K

32748

127

32K

49132

191

48K

65516

255

64K

65516

255

Now you're ready to input the
machine code routine. This routine
sets up the LOAD filename to be ""
and calls the LOAD routine, then
jumps to the STOP routine:

LOC.

Contents

Mnemonics

00

2A

14

40

LD

HL, (E_LINE)

03

22

16

40

LD

(CH ADD) , HL

06

36

0B

LD

(HL)

08

23

INC

HL

09

36

0B

LD

(HL)

0B

23

INC

HL

0C

36

76

LD

(HL) ,76

0E

CD

40

03

CALL

LOAD

11

C3

DC

0C

JP

STOP

To enter this program, set
RAMTOP, then type in the BASIC
listing and RUN it. Input each of
these numbers, one at a time
(reading left to right):

042 020 064 034 022 064 054 011
035 054 011 035 054 118 2 05 064
003 195 220 012

Now delete line 30 and save the
program on tape.

To LOAD a program without
autoRUNning it, first set RAMTOP
and LOAD this routine. Use GOTO 10
to move the routine above RAMTOP,
then use the USR call that this
routine tells you to LOAD the tape
you don't want to autoRUN.

If all goes well, you should
get an error report (STOP statement
encountered) instead of having the
program take off and RUN.

Karl Brendel, Hutchinson, KS

HARDWARE REVIEW

Product: Westridge 2050 Modem

Machines: ZX/TS, TS2068
Price: $119.00

From: Westridge Communications

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
213/306-4103

This product would have been
the TS2050 Modem if Timex had sold
it. A suspected heat sensitivity
problem has been checked out by
Westridge and they have found no
problem with their units.

MTERM/T, the software to make
your computer into a simple ter¬
minal, comes on cassette with the
modem. One side of the tape LOADS
on TS2068s, the other side on ZX/TS
machines. Our tape was difficult

4

to load on the TS2068. After a
call to Westridge, I tried aligning
the cassette heads to the MTERM/T
tape and loading at a much lower
than normal volume. This worked,
and I saved the program on another
tape (after realigning the tape
heads to normal).

Westridge's modem can transmit
and receive data at 300 baud, with
odd, even, or no parity, 5, 6, 7,
or 8 data bits, 1 or 2 stop bits,
using full or half-duplex protocol.
It can also pulse dial the phone
line and will answer automatically
after a few rings. Of course, it
communicates using either answer or
originate tones, depending on whe¬
ther it called out or was called by
another modem.

MTERM/T will allow you to type
to the computer you connect to, to
read what it sends back, and to
stop and print the screen. You
cannot download or upload programs
or data files, or save your trans¬
actions on tape or in memory. You
could write your own programs to do
these tasks if the manual explained
what ports the modem used; it does
not. Westridge says they do not
know either. We have to wait for a
smarter terminal program for these
features .

In comparison to the Byte-Back
modem for the ZX/TS, the 2 05 0's
hardware offers more features.
Unfortunately, the software includ¬
ed with the 2050 doesn't capitalize
on these features. Byte-Back's
modem for the ZX/TS can up and
download programs (if they are
stored in an approriate format on
the remote computer), can save your
session in RAM to review it or SAVE
it to tape, and can even send a
pause character to the remote com¬
puter and COPY each screen as it
comes in. It comes with complete
documentation, including schematic
diagram and port usage. These
features are truly useful.

This comparison does not apply
to the Byte-Back modem for the
TS2068; we have not seen it yet.

HARDWARE REVIEW

Product: AERCO FD-ZX Floppy Disk

Machines: ZX/TS
Price: Interface $179.00

Disk Drive $189.00
Cable & PS $79. 00+$4 P&H
From: AERCO

POB 18 09 3
Austin, TX 78760
512/331-0719

If you value your time and
would like to eliminate waiting 6
minutes for a program to LOAD, a
floppy disk drive may answer your
needs. AERCO's FD-ZX, while not
inexpensive, satisfies my needs for
fast mass storage.

Floppy diskettes come in
various sizes. They are thin mylar
disks impregnated with iron oxide,
just like the recording medium on
cassette tapes. Magnetic heads in
the disk drive record and play back
data, like cassette players. But
in a floppy disk drive, the
diskette rotates at a constant 300
RPM and the recording head can
position itself (under computer
control) to many different tracks
on the diskette. Each track is
circular and concentric with all
the other tracks. An entire
diskette can be searched for a
program in a few seconds.

AERCO's disk system consists
of three major components:

1. Interface board. This
professionally designed circuit
board contains a 2716 EPRQM chip
containing the disk operating
system, a 1797-02 floppy disk
controller IC, and a number of
smaller interfacing chips. It
mounts on a special ribbon
connector to the expansion bus of
the ZX/TS. It provides a 34 pin
edge-card connector for connecting
the disk drive(s). Up to 4 drives
may be run from this board.

2. Disk drive. I purchased a
Pertec FD-250 drive, which handles
35 tracks per side. It can store
almost 1/4 megabyte per side.

5

Pertec no longer manufactures disk
drives, so you may want to get a
different brand.

3. Power supply. Supplies 12V
at 2 Amps and 5V at 1 Amp. AERCO
supplies cables for the drive with
the power supply. You could make
up your own cable from parts if you
already have a power supply to use.

AERCO provides a somewhat
sketchy 10 page operating manual,
but it suffices to get you up and
running. After a brief discussion
of disk theory it presents a step-
by-step installation procedure. It
says how to power up, insert the
DOS disk and execute a USR call to
bring the system up. In a scant 2
seconds you'll get AERCO's 16K or
64K DOS Menu.

This will allow you to format
blank disks (you have to do this
before storing programs or data on
them), LOAD one of sixteen 16K
programs into memory, rename
programs on disk, copy disk to disk
(if you have two drives), and a few
miscellaneous utilities. To SAVE a
program, you must break the program
(or add an extra line) and execute
a USR call to the "page" on which
you want to SAVE the program. I
leave DOS on page 1 of all my disks
and store 15 other programs on the
disk. Any of these can be called
from DOS by selecting the page
number from sub menu, or they may
be LOADed directly with a USR call.

You can save up to six 64K
programs on one disk, select single
or double density recording (single
more reliable; double more data).

In some cases, the buffer used for
double density recording (which is
twice as long as the buffer for
single density) may intrude into
the variables area of your program.

Despite its advantages, the
AERCO system has some disadvantages
you should know about. You must
use USR calls to store and retrieve
programs. SAVE and LOAD would have
been easier to work with. It's too
easy to use the wrong USR routine
and write over the disk when you

In Stock! NEW MD-2B kit
smart MODEM $119.95

ASSEMBLED & TESTED $149."

Now With Both

_ ORIG./ANS.

• Send Text from Memory

• Send and receive Programs by Pb

• Copy Information into memory
Print it. Review it. Save it on Tape

• U»e Timex 2040 Printer or RS-232

• RS-232 Printer Port provided

• No extra memory Required
See Review in Feb. ’84 SYNTAX • 2 FREE Hours on COMPUSERVE

COMPUSERVE PACKAGE WITH 5 FREE HOURS ONLY $39.

NEW MD-68 FOR THE 2068

SAME FEATURES & SAME PRICE AS THE MD-2B

64-K MEMORY $109." k,t ! bpShoTZc^

the “ULTIMATE MEMORY’’ $119.9S ASSEMBLED
SEE REVIEW IN JANUARY ’84 SYNTAX

KEYBOARD without case . . . . . $39.

GORILLA/BANANA PRINTER . $199."

nn A /ril r Cassette & Book $16.95

£- A rHU/NLt including shipping

Clearly the Best File Management Program Avaiable.

NEW PRO/FILE 2068 including shipping

A new version of the Popular ZX PRO/FILE Program with many
new features for the 2068. Includes a 100 Page Manual

RS-232 PRINTER INTERFACE Only $59.95 KIT $69." ASSEMBLED

CONTROL MODULE 8 relays, 8 inputs, $59.95 KIT $69.95 ASSEMBLED

BYTE BACK CO.

RL 3, Box 147, Brodto Rood
LoooviHo, S.C. 29070
ORDER PHONE 903-532-5912
Add $4.95 shipping and handling
>0 Day Warranty On AM Modul— . 10— Day Raturn Prlvlladga

meant to read.

Addresses of some of the EPROM
disk routines appear in the docu¬
mentation, but not elaborated upon
enough for the average user. The
section on 64K programs seemed to
indicate that they can be written
to disk, but only 16K might be
retrieved. AERCO says up to 52K
will be retrieved, all the way up
to E_LINE.

You can only store 16 programs
(up to 16K each) on a disk, regard¬
less of program length. Even a IK
program takes up 16K disk space.

This unit is an excellent
value for those of us committed to
our ZX systems. It's fast, reli¬
able, and reasonably easy to use.
Better documentation and a more
versatile operating system would
have been a plus, but even as is,
the FD-ZX fits the bill. [Editors
Note: AERCO no longer offers the
Pertec drive, and instead now sells
an equivalent Panasonic drive for
$210 + $6 P&H. ]

6

P. J. Donnelly, Centerport, NY

DEAR EDITOR:

I recently wrote asking for
help in using FIRSTLOADER [SYNTAX
Dec'83]. You were kind enough to
reply with an extensive list of
things to try, however, they
involved recreation of the tapes on
the ZX81 and use of the Winky
Board. I had no desire for recrea¬
tion and my Winky has never been of
any use, so since the coding was
correct as published, I returned to
my efforts to use FIRSTLOADER.

Although you mention that
correct volume setting on the re¬
corder is important, you may not
realize how important it really is.
I found that within one division of
the volume control I encountered
four different conditions:

1. Too low: no data transferred.

2. Slightly low: garbarge in
translated program.

3. Just right: Translates OK.

4. Slightly high: System crashes
and screen whites out.

Digging out my cleanest tapes
and working from too low volume
through slightly low, I finally
reached the "just right" condition
and translated the three tapes I
wanted. Thanks for your help.

John Harkreader, Jacksonville, FL

I've just received a copy of
the review of HOT Z-2 068 in your
May issue. Many thanks.

The reason you cannot run code
in read mode is that the program
wouldn't know where to start run¬
ning. Assigning the start address
to the top of the screen would be
unnecessarily restrictive. So a
monomodal HOT Z would have to be
based on the write (cursor-active)
mode. That would be rather like
having a bare wire to the power
supply. The possibility of serious
error would be constant. The
reason for the separation of the
write modes is an attempt to
"engage brain before entering this
command", rather than a result of

more commands than keys. As one of
the world's most experienced users
of HOT Z, I still believe this
modality cuts my entry errors by
about half. The single-stepper is
really only a mode because I don't
have enough screen for the register
values. On a wider screen I would
get rid of it.

My reason for using the BASIC
key names was just that they are on
all the machines, and everbody
probably knows how to access them
by name. Writing them out as
symbol-shif t-this-or-the-other is a
reasonable alternative, but a more
awkward format. A keyboard overlay
would be nice, with real command
names, and if volume ever became
considerable I would do one. It
hasn't however.

Extra benefits of this modal
system is that HOT Z provides a
ready command processor for the
user's routines, and the fact that
any key can be reassigned any
command. As for the maze of key¬
strokes, HOT Z generally requires 3
or 4 less than IBM Debug for the
same command, as a result of the
active cursor.

I did hope the command lists
would make it easy for the expert
user, but there were a couple of
omissions in that first edition.

At least 95 percent of my users are
learners, and I think I could not
sin too much on the side of
explanation first.

No sour grapes intended by
these remarks. It was a good and
useful review. I just wanted to
remark that I've thought about the
issues you brought up.

Ray J. Kingsley, Sante Fe, NM

Lest anyone get the wrong idea,
Ray's letter is a reply to a very
favorable review of his program,

HOT Z-2068. He addressed all the
criticisms I made in my review.

Most are a matter of taste. HOT Z
has been and is one of the best
MC packages for TS computers.-EO

7

HARDWARE REVIEW

I would like to know if you
have any information about Timex
Sinclair User. I have not received
a copy from them since December
1983. In March, I got a letter
telling me they were reorganizing.
Since then nothing.

Michael L. Miller, Peoria, IL

Product :
Machines :
From:

Price:

Speedload

ZX/TS

Intercomputer

358 Chestnut Hill Ave .

Boston, MA 02146

617/738-5310

$59.95 + $4.50 P&H

Timex Sinclair User was purchased
by Computer Communications Inc.,
Camden, ME. Expect to receive an
offer for fulfillment with another
magazine in the near future.

Received my first issue of
SYNTAX and was pleased. I would
like to obtain a listing of the
complete disassembly of the ROM
used in the TS2068. I am willing
to purchase at a reasonable rate.

Gerald McKouen, Lansing, MI

Zebra Systems, 78-06 Jamaica Ave.,
Woodhaven, NY 11421 212/296-2835
sells The Complete Spectrum ROM
Disassembly (ISBN: 0-86161-116-0).
This book is not a disassembly of
the TS2068 ROM, but rather the ROM
in the Spectrum, the UK version of
the TS2068. The TS2068 ROM con¬
tains changed code, and code in
different positions. Coupled with
the TS2068 Technical Manual (see
review in SYNTAX Jun'84) and a
disassembler/debugger like HOT Z
(see review in SYNTAX May'84), you
have nearly enough information to
figure out how to use anything in
the ROM. Expect to hunt around to
find what you need in the ROM.

A short note to say thanks!
Though at some times some of the
articles and programs are beyond my
understanding, I'd hate to think
where I'd be without my monthly
copy of Syntax! I've written a
number of vendors as a result of
your listing and ordered over $300
worth of programs last month!

Loading and saving ZX/TS
programs frustrates me. I
sometimes have to adjust the
controls on my recorder for 45
minutes just to load a seven minute
program. I tried software packages
that purport to ease and/or speed
up the process: to no avail.

Finally I discovered
Speedload. It works exactly as
advertised. For less than $60 you
get guaranteed performance almost
identical to a $500 disk system.
Speedload consists of an EPROM,
attractively packaged with a ribbon
cable to connect to your ZX/TS, and
bus extension for your peripherals.

Since using Speedload I have
not missed a single save or load.
16K programs save about 30 seconds.
Existing programs can be loaded and
then saved through Speedload. You
call Speedload via one of three USR
calls: one for LOAD, one for SAVE,

and one for verify.

Intercomputer advertising and
documentation refers to the TS1500
almost exclusively, although it
works on all ZX/TS machines.

After loading, all programs
emerge in FAST mode. If you want
SLOW, you should put it in your
program at the beginning.

Programs designed to autoRUN
do not start automatically under
Speedload. You need to type an
appropriate GOTO command.

Memotech's Memotext and
Spreadsheet will not go into PRINT
mode with Speedload connected.

When I use these two programs and
anticipate printing output, I
disconnect Speedload.

Dan Townsend, Germantown, TN

Gerd Grombacher, Sierra Vista, AZ

8

HARDWARE REVIEW

Product: Game Changer Interface

Machines: ZX/TS and Atari 2600
Price: $125.00 + $5 P&H

From: Huron Valley Research

POB 732

Highland, MI 48031

Clever hardware construction,
both mechanical and electronic, and
a solid comprehension of both 6502
(the Atari 2600 CPU) and Z80 pro¬
gramming combine to produce the
very powerful "Game Changer
Interface". This unit cross¬
connects your Atari 2600 VCS and
TS1000, allowing either to take
control of whole blocks of shared
memory. That "shared" memory
includes the ROM inside the Atari
game cartridge, and shadow copies
of that ROM in the TS1000 RAM.

Using this system, you can download
ROM games to your ZX/TS,
disassemble the 6502 machine code,
vary the game (or create a new
one), and upload back to the 2600
to play the game.

Physically, the system con¬
sists of two double-sided plated-
through PC boards, professionally
constructed. The mother board
plugs into the back of the ZX/TS
and connects via ribbon cable to
the Atari VCS adapter board, which
plugs into the VCS cartridge slot.

A cartridge can plug onto the back
of the adapter board.

Huron Valley's mother board
contains 4 HM6116S (2K Static RAMs)
and uses some ingenious coding to
remap internal RAM above their own
8K, for a total of 10K RAM in an
unexpanded TS1000. The 4K above
RAMTOP contains the actual VCS ROM
image. This information moves to a
0 REM statement for manipulation by
the ZX/TS machine; game execution
can be accomplished by transferring
the game code to the bottom of RAM
and controlling the ZX/TS bus.

Menu driven software, supplied
on cassette, includes two programs
in BASIC and MC which download the

cartridges (one for 2K and 4K
games, one for 8K games), and a
6502 assembler and disassembler (to
change the games). This feature
comes in handy when you wish Atari
had given you "just one more ship."

This system works very well
and even comes with high quality TV
cables and a 3 way switch box for
your TV set. You need that switch
box, unless you use two sets, to
switch back and forth between the
VCS and the ZX/TS. I installed an
extra RAM chip on the interface for
an AERCO disk buffer and found the
system completely compatible with
the disk drive. With this combina¬
tion I can download, save or
retrieve any program in seconds.

If you don't have a disk
drive, however, things can slow
down a bit. 8K game cartridges
download into 10K BASIC programs,
and we all know how long they take
to load from tape. After you make
or modify a game, you may want to
have an EPROM burned. Since the
system uses BUSRQ, dynamic RAMs
(like those in 16K RAMpaks) will
not work with it. Hunter's ROM
board, populated with 6116s, should
work if everything decodes address
line completely.

I had very little trouble
loading the programs. The menus
are simple and the documentation is
Spartan. It consists of 7 photo¬
copied typewritten pages, including
an installation sketch and a hand-
drawn schematic, important memory
map locations, and operating
instructions. Perhaps the only
flaw in an otherwise superb system,
is the documentation.

Overall, while less than per¬
fect documentation usually causes
me to think twice, I rate the Game
Changer highly. It is exceptional¬
ly powerful and well designed, and
can provide the ultimate in inex¬
pensive game play and design, for a
total of less than $175 (including
the price of the ZX/TS).

P. J. Donnelly, Centerport, NY

9

SOFTWARE REVIEW

Program:
Machines :
Form:

RAM Req:
Listing:
Listable :
Language :
Display:
Author :
From:

Price:

Integer BASIC Compiler

TS2068

Cassette

48K

No

Yes

BASIC

Poor

John Richard Coffey
JRC Software
POB 448

Scottsburg, IN 47170
812/752-6071

$24.95 with Z80 Assembler

If you have lots of experience
programming in languages that don't
tell you about errors, JRC has a
BASIC compiler that you may be able
to use. But don't expect it to
hold your hand.

JRC's idea was to write a
language that looked like a subset
of BASIC, but ran closer to machine
code speed. Many simple routines
in machine code can be written in a
simple BASIC and then translated to
machine code by the compiler. The
speed enhancement is impressive:
JRC's compiled code runs about 100
times faster than interpreted
BASIC. Unfortunately, if you think
you can just compile your existing
programs, you're wrong.

JRC Compiled BASIC supports
only a small subset of TS2068
BASIC. Variables may only range
from A to Z, single letter only.
Numbers may range from 0 to 65536.
No FOR loops, no INPUT statement,
no joystick access, etc. In total,
JRC lists 35 specific limitations
(things you may do in TS2068 BASIC
but not in the compiler), not
including statements and commands
wholly unsupported. Of course, you
could write code to get around most
of these limitations, and it would
probably run at reasonable speed,
but the documentation for the
compiler makes it difficult to know
at a glance what's allowed.

If you have a need for writing

fast code that doesn't need alot of
the power of BASIC, this compiler
may be just the ticket. BASIC code
typically runs after less debugging
than a comparable assembly language
program, since the commands do so
much more each. Machine code
generated by JRC's compiler will
usually run completely without ROM
support (of course, if it prints to
the screen, it uses a ROM routine).
You can specify where the machine
code should be stored, and need not
preserve the source code once you
have a working program. You can
save compiled code on cassette.

I wrote a small test program
that generates random points and
blackens them on the screen. A
listing appears below.

After running for a while, it
stopped with an Out of Memory
error. This program shouldn't
consume memory at all: it uses two
variables and keeps reusing them.
This bug must be in the compiler.

Valid statements and commands
in JRC Compiled BASIC include PRINT
(including AT, BRIGHT, INK, PAPER,
INVERSE, OVER, STR$ (only after
PRINT), and TAB), BEEP, BORDER,

CHR$ , CLS , CODE (one char, argument
only), COPY, DIM (to specify length
of strings only), GOTO and GOSUB
(constant line numbers only), IF
(with a minimum of possible
expressions), INKEY $, LET, LPRINT,
OUT, PAUSE, PEEK, PLOT, POINT,

POKE, REM, RETURN, RND*65536
(always returns between 0 and
65535), SOUND, and STOP. You can
also use +, - (but not unary, and
no negative numbers), *, /, =, <,
<>, OR, and AND.

If this list contains the
functions you need, and you are an
experienced programmer (preferably
with knowledge of machine code),
you might be happy with JRC's
compiler. Otherwise, beware!

lO

SYNTAX is published monthly by a wholly-

owned subsidiary of The Harvard Group.

Syntax ZX80, Inc.

RD 2, Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451.

Telephone 617/456-3661.

12 issues, $48. Single issue, $5.

Publisher:
Editor:
Consulting Editor:
Technical Consultant:

Kirtland H. Olson
Eric K. Olson
Ann L. Zevnik
Kirtland H. Olson

CLASSIFIED ADS

Reach thousands of ZX/TS users — for
just $9/line! Send your typed copy
(35 characters per line) with check
or MO to reach us by the 15th to be
published in the next issue exactly
as typed. No fractions or cent
symbols. Include your phone No.
SYNTAX Classified
RD 2 Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451

© Syntax ZX80, Inc., 1984. All rights reserved.
Photocopying prohibited. ISSN 0273-2696

OUR POLICY ON CONTRIBUTED MATERIAL

SYNTAX invites you to express opinions related to any Sinclair or Timex com¬
puter or peripheral, or the newsletter. We will print, as space allows, letters discuss¬
ing items of general interest. Of course we reserve the right to edit letters to a
suitable length and to refuse publication of any material.

We welcome program listings for all levels of expertise, written in either Sinclair
BASIC or Z80 machine code. Programs can be for any fun or useful purpose. We
will test run each one before publishing it, but we will not debug programs; please
send only workable listings. Ptograms submitted on cassette can be tested more
quickly and with less chance of error.

In return for your listing, we will pay you a token fee of $2.00 per program we
use. This payment gives us the nonexclusive right to use that program in any form,
world-wide. This means you can still use it, sell it, or give it away, and so can we.

We will consider submissions of news and hardware or software reviews. Please
keep articles short (350-400 words). Again, we reserve the right to edit accepted
articles to suitable length. We will pay 7 cents per 6 characters, including spaces and
punctuation, for accepted articles.

When you send in articles for possible publication in SYNTAX, please include
the following information:

• How to operate the program, including what to input if it does not contain
prompts.

• Whether you can run the program over again and how.

• How to exit the program.

• The Syntactic Sum (program published in June 81;
send SASE for a free copy).

• What RAM size program requires.

• What ROM program uses (8K, 2068, Spectrum).

• For MC programs, what addresses must change to relocate the code and what
ROM calls are used.

We pay for this explanatory text at the same rate as we pay for articles in addi¬
tion to payment for the program itself.

If you want us to return your original program listing or article, please include
a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Otherwise, we cannot return submitted material.

PRO/FILE UPDATES: the newsletter
for ZX PRO/FILE owners. Get mods,
enhancements, and explanations as
they occur for $9.95/yr.

Get the PRO/FILE program for $16.95
On AERCO disk $39.95

New PRO/FILE 2068 $29.95

VISA/MC welcome-call (603) 586-7734
Tom Woods Box 64 Jefferson, NH 06583

ZX- PRO/FILE-CARTRIDGE— $39.95
The #1 Timex database manager plus:
QUICKLOAD-saves/loads a 16K file in
30 sec! Stores 1 MEGABYTE on 1 tape
Next best thing to a disk. ..with 59
pg. manual. Send 39.95 + 4.00 sh to
ROMPAK 8206 Blackburn Ave.

L.A. CA 90048 Send SASE for catalog

SYNTAX BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE
You can get every issue of SYNTAX
every printed: over 3 years of
expertise. Learn what makes the
ZX81/TS1000 tick, and how to make
it do your bidding. Order The

Works II today! See our order form
on the back cover of this issue.

Fill out the coupon below and mail to: SYNTAX, RD 2, Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451

□ My check is enclosed.
Make checks Payable to:
SYNTAX ZX80, Inc.

Account number

□ Please charge my □ VISA

□ Diner’s Club □ Mastercard

□ American Express □ Access
□ Carte Blanche □ Barclaycard

s7/84

YES! Please send me:

□ The Combination II (13 issues of SYNTAX and SQ

Winter 82-Summer 83) . $58

□ The Catch-up II (SYNTAX Jan. 82-Jan. 84, SQ Winter

82-Summer 83, plus binder) . $77

Exp. date _ Bank number (MC only)

Signature _ '

Name _

Address _

City _ State _ Zip

Phone: Day ( _ ) _ Evening ( _ )

□ My subscription number is: _

□ This is a new subscription

□ THE WORKS II (SYNTAX Nov. 80-Dec. 83, SQ Winter

82-Summer 83, plus 2 binders) . $97

□ 12 issues of SYNTAX . $48

□ 3 issues of Syntax Quarterly (Winter 82-Summer 83) . . $25

□ 1 issue Syntax Quarterly □ Winter 82 □ Spring 83

□ Summer 83 . $9

□ 1 Binder . $9 □ 1 issue of Syntax . $5

Telephone orders call
617-456-3661

These offers expire 8/15/84 — SUBSCRIBE NOW.

SYNTAX

ZX HARDWARE FIND

We've come upon some hardware at reject
prices — but it's reject hardware. Still ,
stuff is getting hard to find, so this may¬
be the deal to do. Of course you have a
big advantage because you can use the full
technical info published in SYNTAX and SQ
back issues to find your way around.

ALL COMPUTERS AND MEMORIES IN THIS OFFER
ARE GUARANTEED TO BE DEFECTIVE IN SOME WAY
None of these come with accessories like
cables or manuals or tapes.

Scratched ZX81 w/ standard power supply

Defective ZX81 only

ZX81 w/ case— NO KEYBOARD

16K RAM — not known to work

700 mA Desktop PS — Separate AC & ZX cables

Just what you need for finding spare parts
or for finding out what's inside. Get the
funny UK transistors, or maybe a custom
chip, or possibly a spare processor. We
don't know what's wrong with this stuff
and we can't afford to find out. You take
the risks and you reap the rewards. Check
the component prices in any catalog — parts
alone are worth our prices — especially the
custom chips. Don't miss out on these ZX
bargains. Timex parts would cost you more

Don't delay — these will go fast once the
word gets around. One surplus house sold
out of similar goodies in two days.

GET THE WORKS II & GET YOUR CHOICE FREE

As always, we give our best customers the
best deals. Buy The Works II and get your
choice of ANY ITEM FREE. Even if you're
not into hardware, the desktop power unit
makes it easier to connect your computer.
This PS will run your ZX/TS & a RAMpak
easily. Great for traveling — easier to
fit in out-of-the-way plugs.

Lots of good uses for the ZX/TS chassis,
too. Fix 'em up and make code converters
or mount in an old terminal to make a 2nd
system. Great for control applications.

We heard of one user who mounted a unit in
an EBCDIC printer for an ASCII interface.

Quan Code Item

Price Amt

|WRK The Works II plus any
single item below. I

want the FREE _

( code )

$97

PAK ZX 16K RAMDak Defective? $15

ZXP Scratched ZX81 w/ds $25

DZX Defective ZX81 $15

NKB ZX81 w/case NO KEYBOARD $15

PSU 700mA DesktoD PS etd OK $10

We pay all P+H for P+H ($5/item)

WRK and FREE item. TOTAL

SYNTAX, RD 2 Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451

[] Check (payable to SYNTAX ZX80) enclosed
[] MC [] VISA [] AMEX [] Diners Club

Account Number _ __

Exp. Date _ Bank Number (MC) _

Signature _

Name _ _

Address _

City _ State _ Zip _

Phone Day ( _ ) _ Night ( _ ) _

[] I am already a subscriber to SYNTAX
TELEPHONE ORDERS CALL (617) 456-3661

H\RVVRD

GROLP

Bolton Road. Harvard. Mass 01451

First Class

U.S. Postage
PAID

Harvard, MA
Permit No. 8
01451

058SXU68 J

HR WILLIAM TOMLINSON U

3635 RIVEREDGE DR. L

JACKSONVILLE FL 3221 1 8

5